in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them. And they were judged every man according to his works. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire.

1

2

How truly can I use the words of that prophet, who is a warning against the sins of covetousness and unfaithfulness, "Alas! who shall live when God doeth this?" or those words of the holy Malachi, "Who may abide the day of his coming, or who shall stand when he appeareth?" Thy word declares to me,3 that Thou hast set all my secret sins in the light of Thy countenance; and my conscience tells me, that I cannot answer Thee one charge of a thousand. All poor excuses, and vain prevarications, and self-deceiving pleas, whether for retaining what Thou hast commanded me to renounce, or for neglecting what Thou hast commanded me to perform, will then be swept away, and I shall stand forth before men and angels to undergo the searching trial. Those books, out of which I shall be judged, will be an infallible proof; and the secret sins which I may perhaps long since have forgotten, will all be set in order before me.5

Thou hast been pleased of Thy sovereign mercy to write my name in the book of life. O grant that it be not blotted out by all my manifold transgressions. Blot out the record of my sins in those awful books with my Saviour's precious blood, and let them not be brought before me on that day. May I henceforth live under the continual influence

1 Numb. xxiv. 23.
4 Job ix. 3.

$ Ps. xc. 8.

2 Mal. iii. 2.

5 Ps. 1. 21.

of what Thou hast made known to me concerning things to come and as Thou hast taught me that Thou wilt part the righteous from the wicked,' as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats, grant that I may be delivered from the extreme malediction which shall light on those who shall be set on the left hand; and that I may be set on the right hand, and receive Thy gracious benediction, commanding me to take possession of Thy glorious kingdom. Grant this, for Thine infinite mercy, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

XXXIX.-THE PATH OF OUR FEET.

"Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established." - Prov. iv. 26.-See also Ps. xvii. 4; Prov. iii. 17; Jer. vi. 16; Matt. vii. 13, 14.

A LIFE of virtue and religion is likened to a path in Holy Scripture, to remind us that, if we would come to the right end, we must not live according to our own devices and fancies, but must frame our conduct by the rules and precepts which are laid

down or marked out for us in the word of God. There is, as it were, a prescribed way to the right end, and no other will bring us to it. And as our inclinations, which are naturally bad, make it hard for us at first to follow these rules and precepts, we are said to enter into life by a strait gate." It is hard at first to find, and difficult to walk in; and we must all meet with many crosses and obstacles in pursuing it. A life of holiness does not gratify our sensual passions, nor give free scope to our carnal will, and is therefore unpleasing to flesh and blood: nor can we take it without keeping under the flesh, with its affections and lusts,' and bringing it into subjection.

This way of life goes straight to the eternal city; it does not allow of deviations, for the sake of what seems pleasant on the right hand or the left; but the rule is, "Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.”2

A life of irreligion and carnal pleasure, on the other hand, is called "a broad way," because there is no difficulty in finding it: and men easily walk in it by the mere rule of choosing what is tempting at the moment, and giving scope to their natural feelings and inclinations. It calls for no sacrifices; it imposes no necessity of bridling the tongue, or curbing the passions, or resisting the various temptations to ease and indulgence. And though indeed it leads to destruction, yet by far the greater number are found upon it, because they think it pleasant for the time, and hope that by some means or other it will lead them right at last. They find, 1 Cor. ix. 27; Gal. v. 24.

2 Prov. iv. 25-27.

however, by degrees, that what seemed easy at first, becomes hard and miserable as they go on. "The way of transgressors is hard." Though at first it seemed soft and easy, it becomes as irksome and wearying as a hard way to a traveller. Disappointment and vexation meet them at every step; a cheerless gloom surrounds them, and threatening shadows rest upon the path before them. They find too late and too truly that it leadeth to destruction.

Far different is it with the way of duty and obe- . dience. Though difficult indeed to find, and hard at first to walk in, it becomes more large and easy2 as we advance; so that we are able not only to walk with ease, but even to run with liberty in the way of God's commandments.3 "At the first," says the son of Sirach, of heavenly wisdom, "she will walk with a man in crooked ways, and bring fear and dread upon him, and torment him with her discipline; until she may trust his soul, and try him with her laws. Then will she return the straight way to him, and comfort him, and show him her secrets."4 Use renders easy and delightful what is hard to those who are unaccustomed to it; and though there be few indeed who walk in these ways of wisdom and virtue, yet they cheer and support one another with mutual help; and the end is life eternal.

Let us pray with the Psalmist, "Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy Name."5 If, in looking back, we see too plainly that we have moved in a winding and devious line, let us often say, "Who can understand his errors ? cleanse thou me from secret

2 Ps. xviii. 36.

3 Ps. cxix. 32. 45. 5 Ps. lxxxvi. 11.

1 Prov. xiii. 15.
Ecclus. iv. 17, 18.

faults." Accustom yourself early to self-denial and obedience, and be not dismayed if it seems hard at the beginning. You will find how faithful is the answer to that natural inquiry, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.'

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XL.-CHRIST IS THE WAY. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me."-John xiv. 6.-See also Isa. xxxv. 8, 9; John x. 9; Eph. iii. 18; Heb. x. 19, 20.

OUR blessed Saviour is called "the Way," (and in another scripture "the Door,") because it is by Him alone that sinful men obtain an entrance into Heaven. The veil that was hung before the Holy of Holies, and which none might pass through but the high-priest once a year, signified to us, that there was no way to Heaven under the law.

"By

Heb. ix. 7, 8.